cover image Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys

Migration: Incredible Animal Journeys

Mike Unwin, illus. by Jenni Desmond. Bloomsbury, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-5476-0097-7

A bat-speckled sky over Kasanka Forest, a colorful blizzard of monarchs in a Mexican wood, penguins ribboning across an Antarctic plateau, a sea of scuttling scarlet crabs—these are some of the dazzling images that make turning every page of this book a delight. Unwin presents the epic journeys of 21 diverse species, from dragonflies to whales, one per spread, adroitly relating the marvels of each creature’s migration. Context deepens the magic of the sometimes mind-boggling figures—“The Arctic tern... over its lifetime... may fly as far as four round-trips to the moon.” Desmond’s expert illustrations—created with watercolor, acrylic, ink, pencil, and pencil crayon—shimmer on the page, capturing the fragility and abundance of the natural world. A map traces the migration paths globally, ending on a warning note: “People are... damaging the vital natural habitats through which animals migrate... these animals need our help.” Ages 5–8. [em](Aug.) [/em]